MODEL PAYMENTS: Designer Henry Holland, left, wants to create a consumer experience

British fashion designer Henry Holland is to integrate NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies into clothing designs as part of his spring/summer 2016 collection that will feature on stage during London Fashion Week in September.

The inventor of British label House of Holland has teamed up with innovation hub Visa Europe Collab for a 100-day proof of concept process in which a team of craftspeople, artisans and technology providers will work to turn ideas from the drawing board into prototypes.

“What we’re trying to do is create a consumer experience as part of a catwalk presentation showcase,” Holland says. “You have this huge world stage; there’s going to be people watching not just the clothes we’re presenting but, actually, the consumer experience which we’re also creating as well.

“Obviously, I can’t tell you too much more about this but stay tuned for September when we will be showcasing what House of Holland and Visa Europe Collab are working on together.”

“Innovation is all about creativity and therefore, in our world of trying to create and design new payment capabilities, we need to find new ways that we can reach out to consumers,” adds Visa Europe Collab founder Steve Perry.

“The House of Holland is an iconic design centre in the area of fashion; take design, take fashion, take Visa Europe Collab, put them together with the House of Holland, it’s exactly the sweet spot for innovation in payment.”

Visa Europe Collab was launched at the beginning of May as an international innovation hub, working with a network of partners from across the digital and fintech ecosystem to offer start-ups and technology entrepreneurs the “insight, tools and connections to forge the technologies and services that will transform citizens’ interactions with payments”.